A new boost for the Indochina art market.

The silk painting "Sacred Ceremonial Attire" by artist Nam Son (Nguyen Van Tho), co-founder of the Indochina School of Fine Arts, was successfully auctioned at Aguttes auction house for 1,062,720 euros (approximately 33 billion VND), creating excitement in the Indochina art market.

What's so special about the sacred ceremonial robe worth 33 billion VND?

At the home of art critic Ngo Kim Khoi, we found him still overwhelmed with happiness after his grandfather's artwork, " Sacred Ceremonial Attire ," was auctioned off for the equivalent of 33 billion VND on May 13th.

Ms. Charlotte Aguttes and Mr. Dinh Ngoc Duc, Director of the Vietnamese Cultural Center in France, stand beside the painting of sacred ceremonial attire.

Photo: Provided by Ngo Kim Khoi

The painting that fetched the highest price at the Peintres d'Asie: Art moderne vietnamien auction by Aguttes was titled "Sacred Attire" (Vêtement sacré de la pagode , silk , 1932-1933), depicting a worship space in a Buddhist temple. The main character is a young woman sitting before an altar, seemingly skilled in sewing a monk's robe. Her attire clearly reveals her northern Vietnamese origin, with a headscarf, a long dress, and dark trousers.

"Her face is full and beautiful, in her early twenties. She sits with one leg bent and the other folded, occupying a prominent position on the left side of the painting. The artist painted her face from a top-down angle; instead of looking at the robe, she gazes forward as if contemplating some mystery. This gives the painting a contemplative atmosphere. On the right is a light-colored robe, contrasting with the dark color of the figure, occupying an entire corner of the painting," analyzed Mr. Ngo Kim Khoi.

In the bottom left corner is a square seal, "阮南山印/ Nguyễn Nam Sơn seal ". Immediately below the seal is the signature in Vietnamese: " Nguyễn Nam Sơn ".

"For Buddhism, the monastic robe is not simply for covering the body, but also represents something sacred, precious, and noble. It is also a symbol of the virtue of a practitioner, of enlightenment, and is highly respected by all fellow practitioners. When a monastic wears the robe, they are taking on the responsibility of propagating the Dharma and benefiting sentient beings, serving as a model for all beings and bringing about universal peace and happiness," Mr. Khoi emphasized.

New opportunities and a well-deserved place for Vietnamese painting.

At Aguttes' first quarter auction of modern Vietnamese art, not only did paintings by artist Nam Son fetch high prices, but also works by two Indochinese painters: Vu Dinh Ngoc's painting " The Weaver " sold for 107,500 euros (equivalent to 3.3 billion VND); and Le Van De's painting " Girl Combing Her Hair" sold for 150,500 euros (4.6 billion VND).

The artwork "Sacred Ceremonial Attire" by artist Nam Son.

Photo: Provided by Ngo Kim Khoi

Following the auction, Charlotte Aguttes-Reynier, Director of Aguttes and expert in contemporary Asian art, particularly Vietnamese and Indochinese art, shared on her personal page: "These high-quality auctions, with their limited number of works, allow us to accompany and honor the true value of each masterpiece. The results achieved are a worthy testament to the in-depth research and high level of expertise that we continuously pursue, contributing to clarifying and elevating our understanding of Vietnamese artists. Aguttes is committed to being a reliable bridge, strictly adhering to the legal and customs regulations of France and Europe, which is the foundation of all this success, contributing to bringing Vietnamese art to its rightful place on the international art map."

Responding to a reporter from Thanh Nien newspaper about the "million-euro boost" of Nam Son paintings, art researcher Ly Doi said: "I'm not surprised because Nam Son's reputation has been greatly enhanced in recent years, appearing in many prestigious research papers and books, having a street named after him in Hanoi (June 2021), and his works being sought after everywhere. Therefore, with a silk painting of such clear and consistent origin as ' Sacred Rite ,' it's understandable that it's welcomed by many collectors. This work belonged to the French Colonial Ministry from 1933, then to a private French collection until now, and has been very well preserved in almost intact condition, with the colors still quite bright and beautiful. Therefore, if other complete and impressive works by Nam Son and Indochinese paintings appear in the near future, it would not be surprising if they sold for even higher prices."

"The fact that the silk painting 'Sacred Rituals' is approaching the Top 10 most expensive paintings in Vietnam on the public market proves the enduring value of contemporary Indochinese paintings, while also inspiring artists who are passionate about silk painting and giving more confidence to collectors who are still hesitant about this material," Mr. Ly Doi confidently affirmed.

Currently, the portrait of Ms. Phuong by artist Mai Trung Thu, which sold for $3.1 million (equivalent to 72.7 billion VND), holds the record for the most expensive painting by a Vietnamese artist.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cu-hich-moi-cho-thi-truong-tranh-dong-duong-185260525222935007.htm